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Press Release

Visit by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture to Spain

STRASBOURG, 11.12.98 - A delegation of the COUNCIL OF EUROPE Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has recently carried out a two-week visit to Spain. The visit began on 22 November 1998 and was organised within the framework of the CPT's programme of periodic visits for 1998. It was the Committee's third periodic visit to Spain.

The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:

• Ingrid LYCKE ELLINGSEN, 1st Vice-President of the CPT, Head of the Delegation (Norwegian)
• Mario BENEDETTINI (San Marinese)
• Ole Vedel RASMUSSEN (Danish)
• Safa REISOGLU (Turkish)
• Florin STANESCU (Romanian).

They were assisted by two experts - Daniel GLEZER (Head of the Regional Psychiatric and Psychological Medical Service at Marseilles "Les Baumettes" Prison) and James McMANUS (Scottish Prisons Complaints Commissioner) - as well as by Mark KELLY and Jan MALINOWSKI of the CPT’s Secretariat.

The delegation visited the following places:

Establishments of the law enforcement agencies

National Police Stations

• Police Headquarters, Via Laietana, Barcelona
• Police Headquarters, Calle Arquitecto Bergés, Jaén
• Police Headquarters, Calle Luis Doreste Silva, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Central Duty Inspection, Calle la Tacona, Moratalaz, Madrid
• Provincial Brigade of the Judicial Police, Plaza de Pontejos, Madrid
• Police Station, Avenida Gatassa, Mataró
• Santa Catalina District Police Station, Calle Dr. Miguel Rosas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Police Station at the Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Civil Guard establishments

• Civil Guard Headquarters, Travessera de Gràcia, Barcelona
• Civil Guard Headquarters, Calle Alicante, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Other law enforcement agency establishments

• Catalan Autonomous Police (Mossos d'Esquadra) Station, Calle Bolivia, Barcelona
• Municipal Detention Facility, La Riera, Mataró

Prisons

• Barcelona Prison for Men (Modelo)
• Jaén Prison
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Prison (Salto del Negro)
• Madrid V Prison (Soto del Real)

Psychiatric institutions

• Centro San Juan de Dios Psychiatric Institution, Ciempozuelos

In addition, the delegation visited the cellular accommodation aboard the vessel JJ Sister, in which prisoners may be transported between the Canary Islands and mainland Spain.

In accordance with Article 11 of the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the information gathered by the CPT in relation to its visit to Spain and its consultations with the Spanish authorities are confidential.

The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All the 40 member States of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania (as from 1 March 1999), Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The CPT is composed of persons from a variety of backgrounds: lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, persons with parliamentary experience, etc. The Committee's task is to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. For this purpose, it is entitled to visit any place where such persons are held by a public authority. The Committee may formulate recommendations to strengthen, if necessary, their protection against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The CPT organises periodic visits as well as any other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

Further information may be obtained from:

• the CPT's Internet Site: www.cpt.coe.int
• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  Sabine ZIMMER, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 90; e-mail pressunit@coe.fr
• the CPT’s Secretariat:
  tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 72; e-mail cptdoc@coe.int

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe promotes democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 40 member states.